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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="7-224" title_number="7" title_name="Gas, Electric, and Water Companies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Electric Generation Facility Planning">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Beginning January 1, 2025, and on or before January 1 every 3 years, starting in 2027, the Department shall procure or provide to low–income individuals energy efficiency and conservation programs and services, demand response programs and services, and beneficial electrification programs and services that achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established for the Department under paragraph (2) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For the period 2025–2033, the programs and services required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be on a trajectory to achieve greenhouse gas reductions after 2027 of at least 0.9% of the baseline determined under subsection (b) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>When establishing greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under this subsection, the Commission shall measure the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity using current data and projections from the Department of the Environment.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established under this subsection shall be measured in metric tons.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The greenhouse gas reductions achieved to meet the targets established under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall count toward the achievement of the greenhouse gas reduction target established under § 7–223(b) of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The target greenhouse gas savings shall be achieved based on the 3–year average of the Department’s plan submitted in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>For 2025 and 2026:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Commission shall, after making appropriate findings, determine whether the Department’s existing 2024–2026 plan must be modified to comply with:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the targets established in this subsection; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>§ 7–225(d) of this subtitle; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the Department:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>shall provide information as required by the Commission to assist in making the determination in item (i) of this paragraph; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is only required to file new plans in accordance with subsection (d) of this section and § 7–225 of this subtitle if directed by the Commission.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>As a baseline for determining greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under this section, the Commission shall use the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the direct consumption of gas and electricity by low–income residential households in 2016, as determined by the Department of the Environment.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>When calculating the achievement of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under this section, the Department may procure or provide savings that are achieved through all funding sources, to the extent that the savings from those funding sources are achieved:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in a manner consistent with requirements of the U.S. Department of Energy; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>in a manner otherwise consistent with the energy savings requirements applicable to those funding sources.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If directed by the Commission in 2024, and on or before September 1 every 3 years, starting in 2026, the Department shall submit its plans for any programs or services procured or provided under subsection (a) of this section to the Commission for review and approval under § 7–225 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>For weatherization of leased or rented residences, the Department shall adopt regulations to ensure that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the benefits of weatherization assistance, including utility bill reduction and preservation of affordable housing stock, accrue primarily to low–income tenants occupying a leased or rented residence; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the rent on the residence is not increased and the tenant is not evicted as a result of weatherization provided under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The programs and services provided under subsection (a) of this section may not use thermal insulating materials for building elements, including walls, floors, ceilings, attics, and roof insulation, that contain formaldehyde if the formaldehyde:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>was intentionally added; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is present in the product at greater than 0.1% by weight.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Department’s approved contractors used for the programs under this section shall meet the following job requirements:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>pay at least 150% of the State minimum wage;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>provide career advancement training;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>afford employees the right to bargain collectively for wages and benefits;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>provide paid leave;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>be considered covered employment for purposes of unemployment insurance benefits in accordance with Title 8 of the Labor and Employment Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>entitle the employee to workers’ compensation benefits in accordance with Title 9 of the Labor and Employment Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>be compliant with federal and State wage and hour laws for the previous 3 years;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>offer employer–provided health insurance benefits with monthly premiums that do not exceed 8.5% of the employee’s net monthly earnings; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>offer retirement benefits.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall develop a plan to coordinate funding sources and leverage the greatest funding possible to support a whole home approach by addressing:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>health and safety upgrades;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>weatherization;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>energy efficiency; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>other general maintenance for low–income housing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The plan shall coordinate funding among:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Strategic Energy Investment Fund;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>federal weatherization assistance programs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>ratepayer contributions to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the EmPOWER Maryland Limited Income Energy Efficiency Program; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability Program;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust Fund;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <level label="U">
          <level label="S">
            <text>Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, including:</text>
          </level>
        </level>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Community Development Block Grants;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the Home Investment Partnership Grants Program; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grants;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <level label="U">
          <level label="S">
            <text>Department of Agriculture programs, including the Home Repair Program;</text>
          </level>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>the Healthy Homes for Healthy Kids Program;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>State appropriations;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="x">
        <text>funds from the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xi">
        <text>any other source of funding that the Department or the Task Force identifies.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department shall ensure, for any whole home retrofits associated with weatherization provided or developed under the plan, that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>there is a single point of contact for low–income residential households; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>services are offered in any language needed by the low–income residential households.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department shall collaborate with the members of the Task Force and identify other interested parties to develop the plan.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>On or before December 31, 2024, the Department shall submit the plan to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>The Department, the Maryland Energy Administration, and other State units shall apply for all federal funding that may become available to carry out this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall collaborate with the members of the Task Force to develop a plan, including a budget, a timeline, and potential funding sources, to provide energy efficiency retrofits to all low–income households by 2032.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>On or before December 1, 2024, the Department, in collaboration with the Task Force, shall submit the plan to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
